Folding cot



' G. M. WAGNER.

(No Model.)

FOLDING COT.

N0. 440,730. Patented NOV. 18, 1800.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CASPAR M. \VAGNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING COT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,730, dated November18, 1890.

Application filed May 3, 1890. $erial No. 850,502. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LOAsPAn M. WAGNER, residing in Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, and a citizen of the United States, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Cots, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section throughthe cot in its upright position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing thecot in its folded or knockdown position. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail,being a side view of one of the metal straps connecting the end boardswith the side rails of the cot.

This invention relates to cots, and has for its object to so construct acot that its head and foot boards or pieces and the legs attached to thesame can be readily turned to lie against the under side of thecot-frame when it is desired to store or ship the cot, and can be asreadily turned up into place when it is desired to use the cot, and whenin use will be firmly held in position by the pivoted straps thatconnect said end boards or pieces and legs to the cot-frame, which Iaccomplish as illustrated in the drawings, and hereinafter described.That which I claim as new will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, A represents the side rails of the cot-frame, and B theend rails. A woven-wire fabric or other material is to be secured tothis frame A 13 in any usual manner.

C D are posts, the upper portions C of which form the side pieces of theordinary head and foot boards or frames of a bed or cot, and the lowerportions D form legs or supports E are four metal straps which pivotallysecure the end boards or frames C and the legs D to the side piecesA ofthe cot-frame. Each strap E is pivoted at one end at a to the innersurface of one of the side pieces A and at the other end is pivoted at bto the inner surface of one of the legs D, as shown. The

straps are pivoted to the side pieces A far enough from the ends of suchpieces to bring the legs D close against the end pieces B when the cotis in an upright position, as shown in Fig. 1. The pivots b, when thecot is in an upright position, as shown in Fig. 1, are above the pivotsa, so that the legs D are firmly locked against the end of the frame AB. As shown, the straps E are curved considerably near their pivots b,and when the cot is in the position shown in Fig. 1 the end bars B ofthe cot-frame rest on such curved por tion of the straps, the effect ofwhich is to firmly secure the parts together without any otherfastening, and any weight on the cot tends to force the end bars downthe curved edges of the straps E. Each strap E may be about eight incheslong.

When it is desired to fold up the cot for storage or transportation, theframe B C can be raised alittle at one end and the end board or frame C,with its two legs D, turned under the cot and against the frame of thecot, as shown in Fig. 2. The other end board or frame and its legs arethen to be turned under in the same manner. When such end boards andlegs are turned under the frame, as just described, the straps E will beturned completely over, as shown in Fig. 2, which allows the parts C Dto be swung in far enough so that the endboards C will not projectbeyond the ends of the cot-frame.

A cot constructed as described and shown can be made very cheaply, andcan be placed in position for use or for transportation very readily andeasily.

The ends of the strap-irons E when secured to the posts are arranged sothat when the cot is in position for use such ends will be about in linewith the center line of the frame, and thereby the parts will be lockedin position for use without any additional device. The pivots b, whenthe cot is in position for use, being about in line with the center lineof the frame and the pivots a being below such line, the cot will notcollapse when pushed longitudinally.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is asfollows:

1. A cot-frame consisting of rails A B and posts C D, the upper portionsof which form the side pieces of the head and foot boards and the lowerportions of which form legs or supports, in combination with rigidstraps, each strap being pivotally attached at one end to the cot-frameand at the other end to one of the posts in position to bind the post tothe cot-frame and passing beneath a rail B, substantially as specified.

2. A cot-frame consisting of rails A B and posts 0 D, the upper portionsof which form the side pieces of the head and foot boards and the lowerportions of which form legs or supports, in combination with rigidstraps, each strap being pivotally attached at one end

